I find it amusing when people get overly serious about fantasy football — imagining player trades, envisioning games between specific teams, theorizing about how a coaching change might improve a team’s performance and so on. It’s amusing because those confrontations on and off the gridiron will never happen; it’s all an exercise in the fantastic.  Martial artists, combatives practitioners, and combat-sports fans have been known to engage in similar activities: wondering who would kick whose ass and assigning street cred to anyone they deem to be a badass without even knowing the approach to fighting advocated by said badass.  Consider: A martial artist who’s clearly a badass is four-time UFC middleweight champion Frank Shamrock. Years ago, however, when he was asked what he’d do if confronted by an assailant with a knife, Shamrock answered, “I’d run like hell.”  I remember thinking, He totally gets it. I bet his answer would have surprised most of those fantasy martial artists, though. HERE’S THE THING: You know who the most dangerous man in the world is? He’s not a famous cage fighter. He’s a guy you’ve never heard of. He’s a guy who doesn’t care whether he lives or dies, whether he hurts you or you hurt him, whether he goes to jail or stays out. He’s a guy with ropey scars on his head from fighting a dude with a machete when he was growing up. He’s a homeless kid in the inner city who has no choices and no options.  The most dangerous man in the world doesn’t read martial arts maga zines or engage in online debates. He lives by his wits, always managing to get enough money, one way or another, to survive.  Or he has deep desires to dominate others through intimidation, rape, robbery, home invasion, assault or murder. He’s a stone-cold predator who, like a creature in the wild, watches packs of prey animals to determine which one is weak, distracted, or unable or unwilling to fight back so he’ll have the highest probability of success. He coldly calculates the formula for winning so he can do what he wants without risk to himself. He likes the adrenalized moment of attack; he lives for it. Vulnerability is irresistible to him, and he thrives on being in the presence of weakness.  Or he wrestles unimaginable demons that whirl through his head. He sees conspiracies where none exists. He feels urged to take action against foes who aren’t there. He may be compelled to protect “his kind” from phantom adversaries. Whatever drives him is unfathomable to anyone except mental-health professionals, but of course, that doesn’t matter when you’re con- fronted by such a person.  MY POINT IS, you never know whom you’re standing in front of or who just stepped in front of you. Potential threats lurk everywhere. Being skilled in avoidance and being able to recognize pre-incident indicators are survival tools that are too important to overlook.  One of my corporate clients, a person who engages my team to deliver our popular StreetWise and Active Shooter seminars for company employees, recently sent me a critique form filled out by an attendee. It said, “The seminar was excellent, but as an employee for XXXXXXXXXXX, I don’t feel we frequent ‘bad places.’”  The director of security for the firm noted, “Well, this one didn’t get it.”  Nope, she sure didn’t.  THE TWO NOTIONS I’m bringing up here — that the most dangerous man in the world is recognizable or notable and is well-trained and that he hangs out only in “bad places” where law-abiding citizens would never go — conspire to get people in over their heads. In the minds of many, they already have avoided the most dangerous man because of where they live, how much money they make or what their daily routines consist of.  Reality, of course, is a different story. The most dangerous man is the one you didn’t see coming. He had bad intent and was circling in your orbit without you realizing it or, worse still, without you even acknowledging the possibility of his presence there.  The only way to ensure your survival is training. Delivering a “winning” opinion in some inane internet argument over the fighting prowess of people you don’t know won’t help you. What will help is having that argument with yourself over how to better develop your skills — how to be faster, how to be more intuitive and adaptive, how to be more powerful and effective.  THE MOST IMPORTANT thing to take away from reading this column is this: On the day you interact with the most dangerous man in the world, you must make sure he loses his title. You need to steal his energy and become the most dangerous man (or woman) in the world — if only for a moment.  That moment is likely to be one of the most consequential episodes in your life. Stop fantasizing about who holds the title. On that day, it had better be you.  Kelly McCann’s book Combatives for Street Survival: Hard-Core Counter-measures for High-Risk Situations is available at blackbeltmag.com/store .  This article originally appeared in a 2019 edition of Black Belt Magazine.

Split is ablaze with excitement as their hometown hero, Barbara Matic, clinches gold, marking the first-ever gold for Croatian judo. The two-time world champion rose to the occasion, expertly managing the pressure and expectations. Matic, the world's top-ranked judoka, kept Germany's Miriam Butkereit in check. Butkereit, reminiscent of Kerstin Thiele in 2012, had to settle for silver despite a stellar performance. Barbara Matic, who struggled without a medal in Rio De Janeiro 2016 and finished 5th in Tokyo five years later, finally delivered on her promise. With two world titles under her belt and entering Paris as the number one seed, Matic's triumph secures her legendary status in Croatia. In the first bronze medal contest, Tsunoda Roustant started strong, but Polleres was ready, countering with an ippon as the Spaniard completed a full bridge. This marks Polleres' second Olympic medal. The second bronze match saw Gabriella Willems face off against Sanne Van Dijke. Willems, undeterred by fierce competition, skillfully threw for a waza-ari mid-match and maintained control to secure the bronze. Overcoming numerous injuries, Willems' remarkable comeback secured Belgium's first medal of the event, leaving the Dutch team without a podium finish. In a thrilling final, Matic nearly achieved ippon within the first 20 seconds, but Butkereit managed to escape. However, Matic's waza-ari was enough to clinch victory, making her Croatia's first-ever Olympic judo medallist and a proud Olympic champion. Matic expressed her joy after the final, saying, “After placing fifth in Tokyo, I knew I had to stay motivated to win here in Paris. With my parents and boyfriend cheering me on, I’m so glad I could achieve this dream in front of them.” In the afternoon's first repechage contest, Ai Tsunoda Roustant of Spain attacked vigorously, outperforming world champion Saki Niizoe and earning a spot in the bronze medal contest. The second repechage was quicker, with Marie-Eve Gahie struggling while Willems dominated, securing an ippon with a well-executed juji-gatame, silencing the French crowd. The first semi-final between Butkereit (GER) and Polleres (AUT) was action-packed, with both judokas showing aggression. A third shido in golden score sent Polleres to the bronze match, while Butkereit advanced to the final. In the second semi-final, Matic clashed with Sanne Van Dijke (NED). Both were aggressive and aimed for ippon, but Matic's resilience and skillful uchi-mata secured her a spot in the final, guaranteeing Croatia's first-ever Olympic judo medal. Former Croatian President and current IOC member Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović presented Matic with her medal, celebrating the historic achievement.

There have been nine competitors in UFC history who have held championship gold in two weight classes, with the entire collective either already enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame or sure to join their contemporaries when they hang up their gloves. Deiveson Figueiredo wants to be the 10th member of that illustrious UFC group and believes he can get one step closer to achieving that goal when he steps into the Octagon with Marlon “Chito” Vera on Saturday in Abu Dhabi. While Figueiredo clearly has things all mapped out, plans have a way of changing when there is someone else on the other side of the Octagon bent on making their own dreams come true while actively dashing yours, as well. Vera, who fights for the first time since challenging Sean O’Malley for the divisional title earlier this year, has been that guy that ruins plans and forces changes throughout his career. He was the first man O’Malley wanted to defend his title against after claiming the belt last August in Boston because the Orange County resident and native of Ecuador handed him the one and only loss of his career in their previous encounter, and that wasn’t the first time he threw a wrench (or heavy kick) into the works and jammed someone up. On top of that, while the 31-year-old has suffered nine losses over the course of his career (eight of them in the UFC), Vera has never been stopped, never mind the fact that Saturday’s headliner between Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov feels more likely to be the bantamweight showcase that produces the next title challenger out of this weekend’s divisional two-pack. But don’t tell that to Figueiredo. “I’m really focused on that,” he said of finishing Vera and vaulting ahead of the main event winner, whomever that should be, and into a championship opportunity. “That’s what I want to do, that’s what I’ve been training for, and I just need two rounds with Chito to knock him out; that’s all I need. “I want to be the guy that gets a title shot with a knockout over him.” Forecasts and hopeful thoughts for how the title chase shakes out aside, it’s difficult not to be impressed by what Figueiredo has done since relocating to the 135-pound weight class, especially given the fact that he’ll turn 37 later this year. In his first start at bantamweight last December in Austin, the talented Brazilian dominated rankings mainstay Rob Font, warming into the fight on the feet and showcasing his grappling acumen by putting the New England Cartel representative on the deck in each frame. Back in April, he returned to the grappling well, grounding former bantamweight champ Cody Garbrandt in the second round of their UFC 300 opener, forcing him to tap to a rear-naked choke. There is no denying Figueiredo has looked sharp through his first two starts, with the Brazilian confident that he’s found his place in the division and the changes he’s made to his preparation will allow him to continue to enjoy tremendous success for several more years, much like another Brazilian that won gold late in his career. If the belt wasn’t motivation enough — both this weekend and overall — Figueiredo need only look around his hotel room to draw from his primary source of inspiration and drive, as his wife and son have accompanied him on this business trip to Abu Dhabi. “I worked so hard and have been working so hard for so many years,” began Figueiredo, emotion washing over his face and flooding his eyes when asked about what it means to be able to share these incredible experiences with his family. “In the beginning, I wasn’t able to have my kid there or my parents in the Octagon when I won the belt, so right now, I’m having them here with me. Don't miss a moment of UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov, live from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on August 3, 2024. Prelims start at 12pm ET/9am PT, while the main card kicks off live on ABC, ESPN & ESPN+ at 3pm ET/12pm PT.

John Lineker will put on the four-ounce gloves for ONE 168: Denver. However, he will not be competing in MMA. Instead, “Hands of Stone” will get a chance to see if his power can match the technique of a bantamweight Muay Thai specialist. Lineker will challenge Asa Ten Pow in a three-round bout inside the Ball Arena in downtown Denver when ONE Championship returns to Colorado on Friday, September 6. The former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion has always been known for his huge knockout power. Proving that ability against one of the best pure strikers in the world will be an interesting test for the Brazilian. Ten Pow is not entering without momentum. The Florida native has won back-to-back matches on the global stage by KO/TKO and is hoping to make even more impact by ousting Lineker in an emphatic fashion. This will be “The American Ninja’s” biggest bout to date, given Lineker’s incredible history and recognition. The styles of both men should instantly make this a dark horse for Fight of the Night. It will be an explosive battle as each man seeks the KO blow in the Mile High City. The latest addition to the ONE 168 card proves it should be one of the biggest and best events of the year. The lineup of action is pure excitement from top-to-bottom. ONE 168: Denver airs live on Prime Video on Friday, September 6, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.

Strawweight Sam Hughes has been putting in the hours and is ready to face opponent Viktoriia Dudakova at UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov in Abu Dhabi. Before she began pursuing a career in mixed martial arts, Sam Hughes ran track and cross country at the collegiate level, first at Wofford College, where she completed her undergraduate degree, and then at the University of South Carolina while pursuing her master’s. When college ended and her thirst for competing remained, she was introduced to MMA, logging a handful of amateur fights before turning pro and quickly getting the call to compete on the biggest stage in the sport. But as she readies to make her ninth appearance inside the Octagon this weekend against Viktoriia Dudakova in Abu Dhabi, it’s a return to the track that has the Fortis MMA representative approaching things with a newer, kinder mindset. “I think my mentality is in a totally different spot,” begins Hughes, acknowledging that the mental side of the sport and getting out of her own way has always been her greatest hurdle. “That’s what Sayif (Saud) continues to preach and what my other coach that I work with every day, Charles Byrd, constantly preaches to me. “The hard work of me going to the gym is the easy part. It’s easy to be in the gym all day, training your butt off, being exhausted. The part that is the hardest is lifting yourself up and telling yourself, ‘Hey — good job today. You lifted yourself up today. You worked hard today. You learned something today, so let’s keep growing.’ “That’s the most difficult part, and I think what has really helped me out, too, is I started back coaching,” she continues, a smile splashing across her face as she mentions her return to the track. “I’m coaching track and field at a high school, Westwood — shout out Wildcats! — and so I think it’s helped me be a better athlete. This weekend’s bout with Dudakova is an interesting one for the strawweight mainstay — a second consecutive bout outside the United States after having competed there exclusively prior to this year, and a chance to share the cage with another undefeated opponent, one her team has already prepared for once before. Entering the contest with an 8-0 record that includes consecutive victories in the UFC, Dudakova is the third opponent without a loss Hughes has faced at this level, and the last time she shared the Octagon with an unbeaten prospect, she handed Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Jaqueline Amorim her first professional loss. One of the elements helping bolster that confidence is that Dudakova’s last appearance came against another Fortis MMA representative, veteran Jinh Yu Frey, who went the distance with the unbeaten Russian, landing on the wrong side of 29-28 scorecards in a fight that was deadlocked heading into the final round. “That’s definitely the mentality that I’m bringing here,” Hughes confirms when asked about the impact of having Frey’s 15 minutes in the Octagon with Dudakova to draw from and build off of heading into Saturday’s contest. “I respect Jinh so much and she was such an asset to me when I first came to Fortis because she had been here for a couple years and she helped me out tremendously. Burnishing her improved, more grateful mindset and buoyed by the opportunity to compete before a sizeable crowd for a second straight fight, Hughes is admittedly chomping at the bit to walk into the Octagon this weekend, get her hands on Dudakova, and get her hand raised once again. “I’m super-confident going into this weekend and I have no doubt in my mind that I’m gonna get my hand raised.” Don’t miss a moment of UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov, live from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on August 3, 2024. Prelims start at 12pm ET/9am PT, while the main card kicks off live on ABC, ESPN & ESPN+ at 3pm ET/12pm PT.

On Friday, September 27, ONE Championship is bringing the heat back to Lumpinee Stadium with ONE Friday Fights 81. Three incredible matches have already been announced for the event. Takeru Segawa is back in ONE Friday Fights 81, and ready for his climb back toward the top. The Japanese superstar fell short in his bid to become the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion in his promotional debut in January, but will take on Black Panther to prove his might. “The Natural Born Crusher” does not have an easy task ahead of him. Black Panther is on a three-match winning streak, with a recent knockout at ONE Fight Night 23 over Ali Saldoev. Superbon and Jo Nattawut will collide in a featherweight Muay Thai bout with massive title implications in the evening’s main event. “Smokin” Jo is slated to challenge Tawanchai PK Saenchai at ONE 169: Atlanta for the gold as they complete their trilogy. However, Superbon has the chance to stake his claim against his fellow countryman with a monster performance. The winner will unquestionably be the next top contender for Tawanchai, and the Bangkok crowd should be on the edge of their seat for the matchup. Adding even more flavor to the lineup is a bantamweight kickboxing collision between two former World Champions. Hiroki Akimoto and Ilias Ennahachi will try to move back into position for title consideration as they go toe-to-toe inside Lumpinee Stadium. Akimoto returned from over a year away at ONE Fight Night 22, but he ended up on the losing end of a narrow decision to Wei Rui. Now active again, the Japanese star hopes to turn away Ennahachi to restate his contender status. Ennahachi has been perfect in ONE competition thus far and is now ready to showcase his skills in the bantamweight division. The former flyweight king could become an instant threat by knocking off the former divisional king. ONE Friday Fights 81 airs live on global pay-per-view at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT on Friday, September 27.

GLORY returns to Belgium on  August 31  with  GLORY 94  taking place live from the  Lotto Arena  in the historical city of  Antwerp . Here is the GLORY 91 Belgium Full Fight Card breakdown. Headlining GLORY 94 will be an earth-shattering clash between two of the light heavyweight divisions most explosive and unpredictable fighters in  Bahram Rajabzadeh (69-3, 61 KO)  and  Stefan Latescu (17-3, 8 KO) . Both men are known for their knockout power and have become GLORY fan favourites thanks to their incredible displays over the past twelve months. In the co-main event, the always exciting  Berjan Peposhi (29-4, 16 KO)  rematches the Netherlands’ Jan Kaffa (20-4, 7 KO) . The Dutch fighter holds a win over Peposhi from 2023, however, the Brussel’s based fighter is currently on an impressive win streak and is chasing to avenge his previous loss. Belgian superstar  Youssef Boughanem (188-43-8, 120 KO)  returns to compete in a feature bout on the main card against entertaining Italian  Angelo Volpe (38-5, 12 KO) . Former middleweight title challenger  Serkan Ozcaglayan (45-10, 36 KO)  welcomes Antwerp’s own Jente Nnamadim (21-5, 11 KO)  to make his GLORY debut in his hometown. Elsewhere on the main card, heavyweights  Sofian Laidouni (36-3-1, 18 KO)  and  Nico ‘Big Sexy’ Horta (22-9, 3 KO)  collide, top ten welterweights  Jay Overmeer (29-7, 15 KO)  and  Ismail Ouzgni (4-2, 1 KO)  clash,  Cem Caceres (16-1, 13 KO)  takes on  Mory Kromah (29-2-1, 17 KO)  in an explosive light heavyweight contest, and  James Conde (9-1, 4 KO)  welcomes the debuting  Younes Smaili (40-3, 19 KO)  in the opening fight of the main card. The GLORY 94 prelims will be headlined by ‘House of GLORY’ winner  Anwar Ouled-Chaib (3-1)  against France’s  Cedric Tousch (31-2, 19 KO)  and will feature a host of new talent all vying to make an impact in their respective GLORY debuts. Tickets for GLORY 94 are on sale right now from  GLORYKickboxing.com . GLORY 94 will be available to watch live exclusively on Videoland in the Netherlands, on DAZN in France & Belgium, and on Bally Live & Stadium across the United States & Canada. For full global listings, please visit  GLORYKickboxing.com . GLORY 94 Fight Card Main Event Light Heavyweight #2 Bahram Rajabzadeh (69-3, 61 KO) vs. #4 Stefan Latescu (17-3, 8 KO) Co-Main Event Featherweight #4 Berjan Peposhi (29-4, 16 KO) vs. #5 Jan Kaffa (20-4, 7 KO) Catchweight 72kg Youssef Boughanem (188-43-8, 120 KO) vs. Angelo Volpe (38-5, 12 KO) Middleweight #4 Stefan Ozcaglayan (45-10, 36 KO) vs. Jente Nnamadim (21-5, 11 KO) Heavyweight #5 Sofian Laidouni (36-3-1, 18 KO) vs. Nico ‘Big Sexy’ Horta (22-9, 3 KO) Welterweight #6 Jay Overmeer (29-7, 15 KO) vs. #8 Ismail Ouzgni (4-2, 1 KO) Light Heavyweight #8 Cem Caceres (16-1, 13 KO) vs. #10 Mory Kromah (29-2-1, 17 KO) Catchweight 73kg James Conde (9-1, 4 KO) vs. Younes Smaili (40-3, 19 KO) Preliminary Card Welterweight Anwar Ouled-Chaib (3-0) vs. Cedric Tousch (31-2, 19 KO) Featherweight Adam El Hammouchi (20-4, 9 KO) vs. Andre Santos (21-2, 9 KO) Middleweight Karim Taquet (12-5-1, 3 KO) vs. Rahmani Madani (76-6, 44 KO) Catchweight 72kg Arman Hambaryan (58-8-2, 27 KO) vs. Youssef El Haji (69-11-2, 37 KO) Welterweight Ismail Ayadi (30-4-2, 15 KO) vs. Abdellah Oussaid (17-3, 6 KO)

Bantamweight Cory Sandhagen returns to the Octagon this Saturday for a high-stakes clash vs undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Since his loss to Petr Yan for the interim bantamweight title in 2021, Sandhagen has consistently dominated every opponent he’s faced, cementing his No. 2 position in an ultra-talented 135-pound division. Statistically, Sandhagen is one of the best strikers the 135-pound division has ever seen. In 12 fights, Sandhagen has connected on 825 significant strikes, the eighth most in bantamweight history. While that volume could be attributed to his frequent five-round main events, “Sandman” still lands 5.79 significant strikes per minute, which is the fifth highest rate among active 135ers. Very few fighters have ever been able to match Sandhagen’s volume; he has never been outstruck in a UFC fight that lasted longer than a minute-and-a-half, including his last seven opponents, and 11 of 13 overall. In his last four fights, Sandhagen finished with +20, +40, +70 and +25 strike differentials. While you can’t assume that Nurmagomedov has great wrestling because his cousin was one of the best wrestlers the UFC has ever seen, just watch one of Umar’s fights and that should tell you all you need to know. Through five UFC fights, Nurmagomedov has earned top position for 53.1 percent of his total fight time, which is the fourth highest percentage among active UFC fighters and the eighth highest all-time in UFC history. When it comes to wrestling inside the Octagon, it’s been one-way traffic for Nurmagomedov, who’s secured 14 total takedowns while boasting a remarkable 100 percent takedown defense. What flies under the radar is Nurmagomedov’s exceptional striking defense. He’s absorbed just 0.56 significant strikes per minute, which is currently the best rate in UFC history among fighters with a minimum of five fights. Four of Nurmagomedov’s five UFC opponents landed less than 10 total significant strikes against him. Nurmagomedov’s wrestling threat also allows him to land effective strikes of his own, which can be seen in his strike differential of +4.19 per minute. He’s outstruck every opponent he’s faced inside the Octagon, earning differentials of +17, +18, +33, +65 and +72. While the stats show these are two elite mixed martial artists, only one of them has showcased their talents against some of the toughest opposition the 135-pound division has to offer, and that’s Cory Sandhagen. While Nurmagomedov has cruised his way to the bantamweight Top 10, he hasn’t faced any Top 15 opposition in the UFC. Meanwhile, Sandhagen has fought four former UFC champions, including Yan, Edgar, TJ Dillashaw and Aljamain Sterling. He’s also coming off three exceptional performances against former title challenger Marlon Vera, Song Yadong and Font, all of whom are currently ranked in the Top 10. This pivotal matchup raises many questions, but fortunately, the sport of mixed martial arts ensures there’s a scheduled date to answer them all, and that’s this Saturday at UFC Abu Dhabi! Don't miss a moment of UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs Nurmagomedov, live from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on August 3, 2024. Prelims start at 12pm ET/9am PT, while the main card kicks off live on ABC, ESPN & ESPN+ at 3pm ET/12pm PT.

In a stunning display of judo mastery, Takanori Nagase of Japan successfully defended his Olympic title from 2021, solidifying his legacy with an impressive fourth Olympic medal. Nagase's collection now includes a gold and silver from 2021, a bronze from 2016, and his latest gold from 2024. His opponent in the final, Tato Grigalashvili of Georgia, was no match for Nagase's strategic prowess and impeccable skill. Nagase took control of the match from the start, scoring a waza-ari early on and never looked back. He dominated Grigalashvili, scoring a second time to secure his victory and his place in judo history. Reflecting on his journey, Nagase shared, "For three years, I couldn't win and faced immense frustration. But I never gave up. My preparation for Paris 2024 was meticulous, and I stepped onto the tatami with no regrets." In the bronze medal contests, Belgium's Matthias Casse faced South Korean world medallist Joonhwan Lee, with Lee securing bronze with a skillful de-ashi-barai sweep. Meanwhile, Somon Makhmadbekov of Tajikistan earned his nation's first Olympic judo medal by pinning Italy's Antonio Esposito for ippon. The semi-finals were a showcase of elite judo. Grigalashvili battled fiercely against Lee, eventually securing his spot in the final with a waza-ari. Nagase's path to the final was marked by a decisive victory over Esposito, highlighted by a beautiful sasae-tsuri-komi-ashi and a flawless ne-waza immobilisation for ippon. In the repechage, Casse overcame Canada's François Gauthier-Drapeau with a golden score pin, while Makhmadbekov swiftly defeated Sharofiddin Boltaboev with a waza-ari and a quick pin. The -81kg category at the Olympics delivered breathtaking matches and unforgettable moments, crowned by Nagase's remarkable defense of his title, proving once again why he is a true judo legend.

Andreja Leski of Slovenia has made history by becoming the Olympic champion, further cementing the legacy of Slovenian women in judo. Leski is now the third Slovenian woman to win the title in the last four Olympic cycles, following in the footsteps of Urska Zolnir in 2012 and Tina Trstenjak in 2016. In a thrilling final, Leski faced Prisca Awiti-Alcaraz of Mexico. The Mexican judoka started strong, scoring a waza-ari with her lightning-fast tomoe-nage. However, Leski fought back fiercely, eventually throwing Awiti-Alcaraz for a waza-ari and securing her victory with a second score. Mexico celebrated a historic silver, marking their first-ever judo medal. Previously, their best performance had been a ninth-place finish. The gold, however, returned to Slovenia, adding to their proud judo tradition. After the final, a jubilant Andreja Leski shared her emotions: "Tina won silver in Tokyo, and now with my gold, I feel our victory is together. It’s for her, me, and Slovenia. My cousin, who brought me to judo, kidded me when I lost at the worlds in Doha, saying I would win against Clarisse in Paris, and now it’s true." The afternoon session began with a gripping repechage contest featuring Jisu Kim of Korea and Lubjana Piovesana of Austria. Both judokas had performed well in the morning, but Piovesana emerged victorious, winning by submission with a tight sankaku-jime to advance to the bronze medal contest. In the first bronze medal contest, Clarisse Agbegnenou of France faced Piovesana. Agbegnenou, much to the delight of the French crowd, threw Piovesana for ippon with a massive harai-makikomi. Although the French hoped for gold, they celebrated Agbegnenou's bronze, acknowledging her remarkable talent. The second bronze medal contest was nearly won by Katarina Kristo, who seemed to have countered Laura Fazliu. However, a review revealed that Kristo had touched the leg during the exchange, resulting in a third penalty and awarding Fazliu the bronze medal. The second repechage contest was a dynamic and aggressive battle, with both athletes determined to win an Olympic medal. Fazliu, a 23-year-old world medallist from Kosovo, was not intimidated by her more experienced opponent, Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard. Fazliu threw Beauchemin-Pinard for waza-ari in golden score, securing her victory. The arena erupted when Clarisse Agbegnenou stepped onto the tatami for her semi-final against her old rival Andreja Leski. Despite Agbegnenou's perfect record against Leski, the match was intense. Leski countered for a waza-ari with only 15 seconds remaining, securing her place in her first Olympic final and silencing the crowd. Prisca Awiti-Alcaraz of Mexico made history with her incredible performance, reaching the semi-final to face another underdog, Katarina Kristo of Croatia. Awiti-Alcaraz, determined to break the mold, threw Kristo early and concluded with a juji-gatame, delivering a masterful performance worthy of an Olympic final.

The latest UFC rankings are out, and the shifts are nothing short of dramatic! After a thrilling night in Manchester, find out which fighters soared to new heights and who took a tumble. Plus, get ready for a high-stakes bantamweight clash at UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs Nurmagomedov in Abu Dhabi. Massive Changes Across Six Divisions Men’s Pound-For-Pound: A new welterweight king has emerged! Belal Muhammad dethroned Leon Edwards, skyrocketing to No. 6 in the pound-for-pound rankings. Edwards drops to No. 7. Featherweight champ Ilia Topuria climbs to No. 4, while Sean O’Malley advances to No. 5. Alexander Volkanovski slips to No. 8, and interim heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall lands at No. 9 after defending his title against Curtis Blaydes. Flyweight Muhammad Mokaev’s exit from the rankings caused a ripple effect. Manel Kape drops to No. 9, while Alex Perez moves up to No. 6. Steve Erceg and Matheus Nicolau each climb two spots, now at No. 7 and No. 8, respectively. Featherweight Arnold Allen makes a strong comeback, moving up to No. 5 after defeating Giga Chikadze. Lightweight With Muhammad now reigning at 170 pounds, Edwards shifts to No. 1 and Kamaru Usman to No. 2. Heavyweight Curtis Blaydes falls to No. 5, bumping Sergei Pavlovich up to No. 4. Upcoming, UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs Nurmagomedov The bantamweight division heats up with Cory Sandhagen taking on the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov in Abu Dhabi. Sandhagen, ranked No. 2, returns after a year-long hiatus, while Nurmagomedov, at No. 10, aims to extend his perfect 17-0 record. Additional Must-Watch Bouts Bantamweight Showdown:  Marlon "Chito" Vera faces Deiveson Figueiredo. Vera looks to rebound from his title loss, and Figueiredo aims to build on his win over Cody Garbrandt. Strawweight Clash:  Mackenzie Dern vs. Loopy Godinez. Dern seeks redemption after two consecutive losses, while Godinez wants to bounce back from her defeat against Virna Jandiroba. Light Heavyweight Battle:  Azamat Murzakanov vs. Alonzo Menifield in the featured prelim. Stay tuned to Black Belt Magazine for all the action and see who climbs the ranks and who falls behind in the UFC Rankings.

Judo has delivered thrilling results at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, with hundreds of judokas competing across 15 events from July 27 to August 3. By Day 3, Japan leads the medal table with 2 golds and 3 bronzes, while Kazakhstan holds 2nd place with a gold and a bronze. Day 1-3 Highlights: Hidayat Heydarov Wins Gold (73 kg) Azerbaijan's Hidayat Heydarov defeated France's Joan-Benjamin Gaba after an intense 10-minute match. Heydarov, mentored by 2008 Olympic champion Elnur Mammadli, expressed gratitude to his supporters for helping him become a champion. Christa Deguchi: Canada’s First Judo Olympic Champion Christa Deguchi made history by becoming the first Canadian to win a judo gold medal, triumphing over Korea’s Huh Mimi. Training under Antoine Valois-Fortier, Deguchi brought glory to Canada and showcased her skills honed from an early age. Abe Hifumi Dominates Men's 66 kg Final Japan's Abe Hifumi swiftly defeated Lima Willian in under 3 minutes using the sumi-otoshi technique. Coached by Kōsei Inoue, Hifumi’s rapid rise includes past victories at the 2014 Tokyo Grand Slam and other international tournaments. Kazakhstan’s Yeldos Smetov Shines on Day 1 Yeldos Smetov secured gold for Kazakhstan in the 60 kg category by overcoming France's Luka Mkheidze with a Kosoto Gake move. Despite two minor violations, Smetov’s strategic Waza-ari secured his victory. Stay tuned to Black Belt Magazine for more updates as the 2024 Olympics judo events continue to unfold.